Bethany Childress

The Right Plan Changes Everything

I started planning trips for friends and family before I ever became a travel advisor. I was always the one building the spreadsheet, comparing hotels, mapping out the park days, and figuring out which upgrades were actually worth it. People would come back from their trips and tell me how much easier everything felt because we had made the right decisions ahead of time. That kept happening, and eventually I realized I should be doing this for more than just the people I know.

Now I’m a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, and I specialize in Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World vacations. I’ve planned close to 100 trips for families, and the thing I hear most often is that they didn’t realize how much goes into getting it right until they started trying to do it on their own.

That’s where I come in. I help families understand their options clearly so they can make confident decisions and actually enjoy the trip instead of second-guessing every choice along the way.

What I Bring to Your Trip

Planning a Universal or Disney vacation today is not the same as it was even a few years ago. Between Epic Universe opening with five new worlds, changing Express Pass tiers, Lightning Lane pricing that shifts daily, and hotel options that range from value to luxury with very different benefits at each level, there is a lot to sort through. One wrong hotel choice can cost your family hours of time and hundreds of dollars. That’s the kind of thing I help you get right the first time.

I’ve completed training through the College of Disney Knowledge, earned my Universal Orlando Resort Specialist certification, and hold a Royal Caribbean Master of Adventure designation, among others. I’ve personally visited Walt Disney World seven times, Universal Orlando three times, and have sailed on six different cruise ships. Every trip I take gives me more firsthand knowledge that I bring directly to my clients.

My professional background in finance gives me a sharp eye for budgets, comparisons, and getting the most value from every dollar. When I look at your trip, I’m not just thinking about what sounds fun. I’m thinking about what’s going to give your family the best overall experience for what you’re comfortable spending. I help clients avoid paying for upgrades they don’t actually need, and instead focus their budget on the parts of the trip that will make the biggest difference.

How I Work

My planning style is clear, organized, and built around your family’s priorities. I start by asking the right questions so I understand what matters most to you, whether that’s riding every ride at Epic Universe, finding the perfect spot for a sit-down dinner at Mythos Restaurant in Islands of Adventure, or keeping your schedule relaxed enough that nobody melts down by 2 p.m.

From there, I put together options that are specific to your family, not a generic template. I walk you through the differences between hotel tiers, explain when Express Passes are worth it and when early park entry is enough, and help you build a park plan that feels smooth and well-paced instead of rushed.

I stay responsive throughout the process. You can reach me by email, text, or phone, and I check in before and during your trip to make sure everything is going the way it should. If a better deal comes up after you book, I catch it. If something changes at the parks, you’ll hear from me.

One of my clients, Jane, put it this way after I helped her family plan a multigenerational spring break trip to Universal Orlando:

“Her expertise helped us make decisions by ensuring we avoided travel-planning pitfalls and made selections based on having greater knowledge than we could have gained just by reading information on a website. The time Bethany saved me can be measured in days, not hours.”

That kind of feedback is exactly why I do this work.

Beyond the Theme Parks

I live in Alabama with my husband and our two teenage daughters, ages 17 and 15. My husband and I have been traveling together since college, and it’s always been one of the most important ways we connect as a family. We’ve explored the Caribbean, hiked through Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, and spent plenty of time in Orlando experiencing different resorts and hotel categories firsthand.

I also help families plan Caribbean cruises, and I work with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, Virgin Voyages, and Disney Cruise Line. If your family is deciding between a theme park vacation and a cruise, or thinking about combining both into one trip, I can help you figure out the right fit.

Outside of client work, I’m constantly researching new hotels, updated park strategies, and changes to ticket and pass structures. I’m active in travel communities where I share tips and answer questions. Staying current is a big part of how I make sure my recommendations are based on what’s actually happening right now, not what worked last year.